Our Readers' Views

National health care takes many forms around world

In response the recent report, "Universal health care's dirty little secrets and more," all I can say is that anything worth doing is rarely easy. The authors point out many flaws with the idea of national health care, but none of the benefits.

I would be delighted to pay more taxes for universal health care if it meant that losing my job would not be compounded by the potential loss of health care for my family. We can all go to an emergency room, but without health insurance, many families are ruined by the costs of serious illness or injury. That's just not right.

We can look around the world at all of the varied forms which national health care has taken, and see not just the flaws but the strengths, too.

With that knowledge, we can craft a national health care system that capitalizes on the best of what's out there while avoiding the pitfalls.

David Harkins, New Castle

New nuclear weapon could provoke another arms race

As reported by the Friends Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker lobbyist group in Washington, the Bush administration has a $150 billion plan to develop and build new nuclear weapons, returning our nation's production capacity of nuclear weapons to Cold War levels and developing the first new nuclear warhead in nearly two decades.

At the same time the administration is calling on other nations to stop production of new nuclear weapons, it is proposing to reignite a dangerous arms race by rebuilding the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The proposal also undermines the Non-Proliferation Treaty to reduce weapons stockpiles.

Is this the vision you want reflected in the federal budget? Or do you feel budget priorities for better education, health care for all, affordable housing and other human services? Let your congressional delegation know your thoughts.

Ruth P. Johnson, Dover

Reward Brandywine district for its consistent success

Brandywine School District schools helped four of my five children become independent and successful. It is our duty to invest in education, and public education allows us to do this economically.

The district has made tremendous academic gains since its last operating referendum in 2002. Middle school math scores are among the highest in Delaware -- about 20 points above state average. The district has seen significant increases in Delaware Student Testing Program scores: a 14 percent increase in math and reading in grade eight; a 12 percent increase in math in grade five; and an 11 percent increase in reading in grade five.

Brandywine's SAT scores are much higher than the national and state averages, and its graduation rates continue to climb. Students go on to excellent colleges and careers, and many return to be valuable citizens of our community.

Strong local schools are linked to strong, safer communities with good property values. By supporting the Brandywine referendum, we are ensuring that our community thrives. A yes vote on Tuesday is not just for our students, but for our community's future.

Gene J. Mirolli, Wilmington

Financial advisers endorse Brandywine referendum

In 2001, when the Brandywine School District was attempting to get back on track from administrative and financial difficulties, I was asked to be co-chairman of a financial review task force of local individuals.

Our charge was to investigate and make recommendations with regard to the district operating budget, buildings and grounds, and financial controls and reporting. It has been rewarding to see recommendations implemented over the past six years, especially creation of the finance committee -- a group of five citizens with expertise in accounting and finance, who have no personal or business gain from their involvement.

That independent group of experts helped determine the recommended tax increase needed for the district's operations over the next five years.

Quality public schools are crucial to a community. Our community should support the operating referendum on Tuesday.

Stephan Lehm, Wilmington

Childless taxpayers should be exempt from school tax

I wish to come out strongly against any rise in school taxes. The district spends more than $15,000 per student, among the highest in the country. Under-utilized buildings and increasing numbers of employees in the face of decreasing enrollment are just poor management. In excess of 50 administrators making more than $100,000 a year plus benefits is ridiculous.

Being single and having no children, I have grown weary of paying increasing amounts for the education of other people's children. Those with kids in schools should be paying not only any increase but all the costs. I have no say in how these children are raised or educated, nor should I, but my money is taken for this purpose. Oppression of a minority, through taxation, has become our tax system.

David Arnold, Wilmington

Strategy of fighting back is best anti-terrorist option

Since the early 1990s, we have had two strategies for fighting terrorism. President Clinton kept our troops safe at home and hoped the "can't we all get along" approach worked. That resulted in thousands of our citizens and military personnel being killed and facilities being destroyed here and abroad.

Have we forgotten the USS Cole, Kobar Towers, the destruction of embassies overseas, the World Trade Center -- all of which took place under the Clinton strategy?

After 9/11, President Bush finally vowed to hold those responsible accountable and decided to take the fight directly to terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is no coincidence that since this strategy was implemented, we have had no attacks in our homeland or to our facilities overseas outside of Afghanistan or Iraq.

Osama bin Laden has stated many times that when terrorists drive us out of Iraq, they will follow us and fight us here.

Sen. Joseph Biden advocates that we cut and run from Iraq. He should think about explaining that when body bags again start piling up in our homeland.

Guy Longo, Seaford

Lawmakers waste time offering unnecessary bills

The most ridiculous thing I've read had to do with state Rep. Melanie George Marshall's proposal to ban Internet hunting. She is trying to ban something that doesn't even exist.

She says, "What if someone opened a site in the six months when we are out of session?" How about banning all proposals that have no benefit for anyone but legislators' own self-importance?

Another example is House Bill 20, proposed by Rep. Nancy Wagner to ban cell phone use in cars. To quote the News Journal article: "The legislation is backed by highway-safety advocates, although they admitted there is little hard data to show that it would reduce accidents." So what is the purpose? Another attempt by do-gooders to tell us how to live our lives?

Then there is the bill concerning underage marriage, when it should be something decided by families and parents. County clerks of the peace say the bill doesn't reduce parental rights because they would have to petition a court. Huh? This reduces parents' rights to make decisions.

I wish all of these public servants would stop wasting the taxpayers' money and do some real public service. Or fix the budget crisis we are supposedly in. Proposing more laws so government controls more of our lives is a big waste of time and money, and goes against everything the founders fought for.

Bob Williams, Wilmington

There are other renewable fuel sources besides corn

No one in the ethanol industry has ever claimed that expanding its domestic use would solve our dependence on foreign oil ("Ethanol corn subsidies may be creating more problems than solutions," April 12). Moreover, recent concerns over whether there is enough corn to meet both food and fuel needs are seriously overblown.

Here are a few facts. Producing more renewable biofuels will help reduce oil imports and global warming emissions. Ethanol is a cleaner-burning high-octane fuel that is now in 50 percent of our nation's gasoline. While expansion of ethanol plants does require more corn, farmers will be planting more than 90 million acres -- enough to produce corn for food and fuel.

The ethanol revolution is just beginning. Corn is the feedstock today, but switch grass, wood chips and other forms of cellulose are the feedstocks of tomorrow. By 2030, we can expect more than 60 billion gallons of production.

Together with other renewable energy sources and improvements in energy efficiency, ethanol is an important component of future energy needs.

Bob Dinneen, Wilmington

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Our Readers' Views

National health care takes many forms around worldIn response the recent report, 'Universal health care's dirty little secrets and more,' all I can say is that anything worth doing is rarely easy.